but curiosity at last prevailing, he crept gently towards the well. Not a sound did he hear, save the rustling of the trees in the night wind; all was dark and gloomy, not a star was visible through the leafy canopy above him.

The well had a low wall around it; under this crouched the trembling Ashuk, not daring for some time to look over it. At last, ashamed of his weakness, he suddenly thrust his head over the wall, but soon withdrew it, falling insensible on the ground, for his eyes encountered the fiery dragon. Two glaring meteors were its eyes, its golden wings were extended as if in the act of flying upwards, whilst its ponderous jaws were opened, as if ready to devour his As prey. soon as Ashuk recovered from the shock he had received he rushed from the tope, gained the fields, and stopped not until he arrived at his mother's house. Beewah had long awaited the return of her son'; and still hoping he would speedily arrive, had not retired to rest. It was with delight, therefore, she heard his well-known voice demanding admittance; but, on opening the door, how was that delight changed into alarm on perceiving the terror-stricken countenance of Ashuk, who fell to the earth gasping for breath! In vain she enquired the cause of his extreme agitation. Have you been attacked, Ashuk, robbed, or engaged in any quarrel? The bow-maker has in vain awaited your return, and

'Oh!' cried Ashuk, 'curse the bow and arrows, and the maker of them also. Leave me, my mother; nay, stay, lead me to my bed. I am ill and fatigued.'

The poor widow was unable to fathom the cause of this alarm in her son, but forbore to harass him with questions concerning

it, determining, however, to know the whole truth in the morning. She, therefore, silently conducted the youth to his bed, from which he arose not until late on the following morning, having passed a miserable night, dreaming of fiery dragons and hideous demons. He determined to keep secret from every one, even his mother, the events of the preceding night, not willing to confess either his temerity or his fears. When Beewah, therefore, begged to be informed of the cause of his alarm, he confessed he had been greatly agitated, but begged her not to enquire farther, as he had sworn not to divulge the cause; he concluded by extorting a promise from his mother not to mention to the bow-maker or any other person his late return and alarm. Beewah, although sadly disappointed at not being informed of the whole mystery, readily gave her promise to be silent on the subject.

Ashuk pondered deeply on the events of the preceding night, and severely rebuked himself for his cowardice, feeling convinced that but for the long catalogue of horrors he had heard from the cultivator he should not have been guilty of so much unpardonable weakness. After turning the subject over in his mind he came to the determination of visiting the well in broad daylight, and was proceeding thither when the bow-maker stood in his way, begging to know how he liked the bow.

'It is a good one,' said Ashuk, and I shall keep it, provided the price be not too high.'

'It is only fifteen rupees, sir, and the arrows are half a rupee each.'

'Very well; then send me a dozen arrows, and I will pay you at a future time.' The man, making a salaam, retired, leaving

Ashuk to pursue his way towards the place of terror. He arrived at the tope of trees, which, notwithstanding the sun was at its height, was gloomy and uninviting; not a soul was near, so carefully was the spot avoided at all hours. Drawing his sword, he entered the place, determined to fight either man or dragon, and to cut down even Mhadeo himself, should he offer any opposition. He approached the well, into which, after a little hesitation, he ventured to peep. He saw the dragon in its place, having, however, now but one fiery eye, and that by no means so brilliant as on the preceding night. Strongly suspecting a trick from this circumstance, he determined to ascertain the disposition of the monster below, and called out loudly. No answer, no noise, save the echo of his own voice, was returned. Finding the dragon so tame, he ventured to throw down a small pebble, which he directed with so good an aim as to see it fall on the head of the beast, which nevertheless moved not. He then selected a heavier and larger stone," which also alighting on the animal's skull, the single fiery eye became suddenly dark as the other. 'Ah! ah!' thought Ashuk, if I can so easily extinguish the brilliancy of the dragon's eye I shall have but little difficulty in annihilating him with my sword, and will at all hazards descend.'

The well having large stones at equal distances protruding from its sides, for the purpose of forming steps, and made, most probably, by the people who first built it, Askuk, by their means, with caution and without any opposition, descended. When within reach of the animal he drew his sword and made a thrust at the monster, when what was his surprise to find his formidable

enemy composed only of paper!' He now more than ever reproved himself for his fears, and hastened to examine the figure which caused so much terror throughout the district. He found a very ingeniously contrived dragon, with gold-paper wings, and a head so constructed as to admit of two small lamps being introduced behind it, so as to illumine the monster's glassy eyes, one of which, it had appeared, had gone out, and the flame of the other was nearly exhausted, when probably the shock received by his second stone had displaced the trembling wick, so as to cause it to fall, and thus divest the figure of its greatest terror.

Having now fully convinced himself of the imposition which had been so long practised on the world, he began to conjecture the object of it. There must be some chamber, some secret recess, containing probably some fair lady; if so, he determined not to rest until he should discover it. Behind the dragon was a large square flagstone, similar to those with which the bottom of the well was paved, as it was perfectly dry, not having the slightest appearance of having contained water for many years. The stone behind the dragon appearing immovable, Ashuk felt assured that without a light he could effect nothing.

He therefore ascended, intending to provide himself with a lantern or torch on the following day, fearing a second visit on the same day might attract notice and create suspicion.

Arrived at home, his mother was rejoiced at beholding her son once more cheerful and free from care; she therefore refrained

1 The natives, especially the Mahomedans, are very expert at forming birds and beasts of divers-coloured papers, stretched over a thin bamboo framework. At the Mohurrum, one of the greatest festivals, numbers of these paper animals are made and carried in procession through the city.

from questioning him on the forbidden subject. The following day, Ashuk, having provided himself with a lamp and a torch, with materials for striking a light, proceeded about two hours earlier than before to the enchanted well. He found the dragon's eyes most brilliant, the lamps having been trimmed by the guardian of the place, for, owing to his early appearance at the place, the oil had not been expended. Who could the person be that acted in this mysterious manner? and what could be his object? The former was a point he should probably not easily discover, but the latter he trusted would soon come to light.

Ashuk descended the well, and lighting his lamp at the dragon's eyes, found at the bottom of the flagstone, which was ingeniously let into the side of the well, two iron wedges, which carefully removing, the stone slipped from a groove above, and was thus easily displaced, presenting to view a dark cavity, the pentup vapours of which, escaping at the aperture, nearly extinguished his lamp. He entered, and found himself in a small stone chamber, and by the light of his lamp discovered in one corner, not a beautiful woman, as he had come prepared to find, but sundry bags, which doubtless contained treasure. He quickly untied one, and found it full of gold bars; he did the same to a second, and a third, and all contained gold bars like the first, about six inches in length, and half an inch in breadth. His foot now struck against something, which he discovered to be a pair of scales, and in an opposite corner were others of a larger size, with weights, &c., fixed to a low post in the earth. The delighted youth knew not how to proceed so as to elude the suspicion of the nocturnal visitor of the well. To carry away one of the bags